Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash received from customers	$ 2,162,520us-gaap_ProceedsFromCustomers	$ 2,090,030us-gaap_ProceedsFromCustomers	$ 2,063,805us-gaap_ProceedsFromCustomers
Cash paid to suppliers and employees	(1,806,526)us-gaap_PaymentsToSuppliersAndEmployees	(1,804,028)us-gaap_PaymentsToSuppliersAndEmployees	(1,664,491)us-gaap_PaymentsToSuppliersAndEmployees
Interest paid	(20,793)us-gaap_InterestPaid	(61,233)us-gaap_InterestPaid	(46,369)us-gaap_InterestPaid
Income tax payments	(28,939)us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet	(71,144)us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet	(93,697)us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet
Settlement with the SEC and DOJ relating to the FCPA, including interest	(55,050)	0	0
Investment proceeds and miscellaneous receipts, net	15,671	16,760	12,991
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(1,349)	(2,720)	(2,889)
Proceeds from (payments for) forward foreign exchange contracts, net	7,778	1,471	(2,870)
Net cash provided by operating activities	273,312	169,136	266,480
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(120,999)	(106,658)	(142,869)
Proceeds from dispositions of property, plant and equipment	225	1,214	6,325
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash received, and long-term investments	(44,627)	(72,054)	(39,443)
Payments for purchases of intangible assets	(15,479)	(700)	(1,780)
Payments for purchases of marketable securities and investments	(205,746)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	(386,714)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	(680,966)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities and investments	75,725	289,779	131,295
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities and investments	120,390	276,052	327,052
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(190,511)	919	(400,386)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net (payments) borrowings on line-of-credit arrangements and notes payable	(1,560)	48	(191)
Payments on long-term borrowings	(253)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(300,228)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(620)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	15,051	11,237	10,611
Payments of contingent consideration	(2,374)bio_Paymentsofcontingentconsideration	(25,474)bio_Paymentsofcontingentconsideration	0bio_Paymentsofcontingentconsideration
Debt issuance costs on long-term borrowings	(524)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Purchase of treasury stock	0	0	(101)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	1,349	2,720	2,889
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	11,689	(311,697)	12,588
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	(12,790)	9,805	10,475
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	81,700	(131,837)	(110,843)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	331,551	463,388	574,231
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 413,251	$ 331,551	$ 463,388

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